NSCDC accuses police of obstructing prosecution of illegal miners in Nasarawa

The Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) has accused the Nigeria Police Force of actively obstructing its efforts to prosecute amerciable mining operations successful Nasarawa State.

In a petition to the Senate Committee connected Ethics, Privileges and Public Petitions, Commander of the NSCDC Mining Marshals, John Onoja Attah, alleged that constabulary operatives person repeatedly interfered with ongoing investigations, shielded suspects, and harassed NSCDC officers.

Attah explained that pursuing a petition from Capital Apex Synergy Global Limited, the NSCDC arrested 1 Ali Tanko and respective Chinese nationals connected October 25, 2024, astatine a mining tract successful Rafin Gabas, Kokona Local Government Area. The suspects, according to him, had been mining illegally since 2021 without a valid licence and had confessed to the transgression successful some written statements and video recordings.

The NSCDC filed 2 transgression cases — FHC/ABJ/CR/577/2024 and FHC/ABJ/CR/131/2025 — and deployed unit to defender the tract arsenic portion of grounds protection. However, Attah said the concern deteriorated erstwhile the subject detachment securing the tract withdrew connected March 26, 2025. Police operatives from the Force Intelligence Department (FID) allegedly moved in, attacked civilian defence officers, and took power of the site.

On April 3, NSCDC officers were reportedly ambushed and changeable astatine by constabulary operatives. Four officers — Yarima Yunusa, Insp. Hasuruna Lamshi, Insp. Oliver Kutaya, and Raymond Ibrahim — were arrested and detained.

“No disciplinary enactment has been taken against those who opened occurrence connected our men,” Attah told the Senate.

He further cited a akin incidental successful Lege community, Ondo State, connected February 12, 2025, wherever constabulary allegedly attacked NSCDC unit during a raid connected amerciable golden mining.

According to the petition, different police-led cognition connected April 8, 2025, saw 4 NSCDC officers arrested and allegedly coerced to framework their commander. The officers refused, and were reportedly assaulted.

Instead of supporting the ineligible process, Attah said the constabulary turned their attraction to the complainant, Capital Apex Synergy, inviting its officials for interrogation and obtaining a tribunal bid to barroom NSCDC entree to the tract nether investigation.

“This is simply a deliberate effort to frustrate prosecution and support amerciable mining interests,” Attah said, urging the Senate to intervene and safeguard the integrity of the justness system.

Source: Legit.ng